Young Audiences New York's 2014 Children's Arts Award Benefit Breaks Record; Raises Over $1 Million

On Tuesday, March 4, 2013 Young Audiences New York (www.yany.org), an organization committed to providing arts-based instruction to students enrolled in New York City's public schools, drew over 500 officials and distinguished guests from New York City's business, media and education sectors to its annual Children's Arts Award Benefit. The event generated $1,032,315 making it the organization's highest grossing fundraiser in its history. Proceeds will expand Young Audiences New York's ability to provide arts education to underserved New York City students in grades pre-K through 12 across all five boroughs.

The night of the benefit, Young Audiences New York honored the following luminaries for their advocacy of children's arts education: Evan G. Greenberg, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, ACE Limited and Matt Seiler, Global CEO, IPG Mediabrands. Traditionally Young Audiences New York has also recognized a performer as its Arts Honoree. This year for the first time, the award was given to a community of people who exemplify working together to make arts education happen for kids. The school community from P.S. 163 was the recipient of the 2014 Arts Honoree Award. The school was singled out for the dedication its PTA, school leaders and teachers have demonstrated every year for the past twenty years to ensuring that all the children in the school benefit from arts education. This commitment to integrating creativity into the school day is a wonderful example of communities, partners and educators working together to give kids more of what they want and need. Principal Donny Lopez and Assistant Principal Andrea Woodhouse-Spence, P.S. 163, accepted the award on behalf of the school community. Students from P.S. 163 performed "Las Chiapanecas" and "Jesusita en Chihuahua" under the direction of Yloy Ybarra. Actor Billy Lyons (Lost Bohemia, The Things They Carried) served as the evening's Master of Ceremonies and spoke firsthand about how he has seen arts education impact thousands of kids across the country.

The festivities, which took place at Cipriani's Wall Street in Manhattan, featured an awards presentation, auction and a paddle raise led by Auctioneer James Donahower. Jazz singer Alexis Cole and her band performed.

The 2014 Children's Arts Awards Benefit Chair was Julie Kantrowitz, President, Bridge Media Consultants, and the co-chairs were Jeffrey W. Greenberg, Chairman, Aquiline Holdings, LLC and Jackie Kelley, CEO North America & President Global Clients, IPG Mediabrands.

"Kids and the arts go together, said Eileen Doyle, Executive Director, Young Audiences New York. "Everyone knows that --and research proves great things happen when kids have arts education. Young Audiences New York is all about making top notch learning through the arts a reality for more kids. We are so excited that we brought more supporters than ever to the table this year--that means more arts for more kids!"

Every year, Young Audiences New York's 200 school and community partners count on the organization to bring their experienced faculty of teaching artists, diverse artistic offerings, and customized approaches to over 50,000 kids enrolled in the New York City school system. Through theater, dance, music and visual arts, kids learn to focus, work together, solve problems creatively, and persevere-all important skills for succeeding in today's world.

Young Audiences New York is one of New York City's oldest and most well?respected arts education organizations. Our programs connect highly skilled teaching artists with school and communities throughout the country. We take pride in understanding a partner's objectives and needs and fulfilling those goals with our diverse program offerings. Last year, our programs reached more than 25,000 students in over 60 New York City schools. YANY's Literature to Life® national tour brought arts education to an additional 30,000 students in 30 states.

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